Humpback whale with swimmers

Megaptera novaeangliae

Port St. Johns, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Nikon F100, Provia 400, Nikon 80 - 400 VR

The whale repeatedly approached each of us in the water, coming in for a close look with one huge, intelligent eye; at other times rolling on her (?) back, or - as here - thrusting a pectoral flipper into the air. All the time that we were in the water, this whale moved slowly and gently.